Casing



J. MANDEL Dec. 24, 1940.

CASING 2 Sheets-Sheet l y z z 0 ,J k v I: a E 2 a z 7 w a z 7 in WMY I Ji 1w on r: a

din/"J 2 I Hahde/ i ATTORNEYS J. MANDEL Dec. 24, 1940.

CASING Filed March 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR Jaca MandelATTORNEYS- Patented Dec. 2 4, 1 940 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CASINGJacob Mandel, New York, N. Y., minor to Pronto le Com, Inc., New York,N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 17, 1939, Serial No.262,450 6 Claims. (01. 229-49) The present invention relates tocollapsible Fig. 4 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of files, such asare employed, for example as stortwo horizontally adjacent casings, theadjacent age files. walls being in section to show the interlocking Itis the general object of the invention to promechanism therebetween;while 5 vide a collapsible casing for files of the drawer Figs. 5 and 6are sections taken on the lines 5 and casing type which can beconveniently col- 5-5 and 6-4 of Fig. 4. lapsed and erected and in itserected condition The four casings A, B, C, D shown by way of presents aneat and pleasing appearance. example in Fig. 1, are composedessentially of a It is the further object of the invention to promainbody portion Iii and a front end reinforc- 10 vide a file casing ofrectangular form whose main ing frame ii. The main body portion i0 maybe 10 body portion is made of relatively inexpensive made of anysuitable light material such as cormaterial, such as paper board, orvery thin sheet rugated or other paper board, or thin sheet. metal,which itself is not quite able to withstand metal. In the form of theinvention illustrated the weight of a number of superposed files withinthe drawings, the casings are shown as made 16 out distortion andexcessive wear, but which, in of paper board which is provided withscorings, accordance with the invention, is provided with a as shown ati2, along which the blank of which reinforcing structure of simpleconfiguration the casing body is composed may be molded to whichstifiens the casing at the corners and reprovide the side walls i3,bottom wall it, top ceives and transmits vertical loads on the casing.Wall i5 and end wall i 8 in a manner well under- 20 It is the stillfurther object of the invention stood in the art and as shown, forexample, in 20 to provide an improved means for connecting e pa ent toScheinman and Mandel No. superposed casings to each other to preventlathe 5 8 y is preferably e of eral or endwise displacement of one withrespect a single integral Piece of material, the end walls to the other;and to provide also means for holdbeing formed 0 u fl ps extending fromh m horizontally adjacent stacks of columns of o o d i e w ss c n be bess 25 files against similar displacement, from Fig. 1, the flaps l7 and18 extend from the More specifically, it is an object of the inven- SideWalls Of the casing and the ps l9 and 20 tion toprovide a casinginterlocking means which from the top and b t m W the er fl ps can beused both to tie vertically superposed meeting upon the outside of thecasing along the f ings to each other and likewise horizontally adjalineH and th nd wall be n h d in erected 30 cent casings; the stacking ortying means being condition with the aid of an adhesive paper or of suchcharacter that any casing of a group of 010th a The free ends of theCasing blank vertically and horizontally interlocking casings may meetat the o r td Co ner Of the can be removed from the battery of casingswiths n 88 ew in IG- 2 n be Connected y n out disturbing the othercasings. adhesive paper or cloth tape 23. The construc- 35 Furtherobjects nd advantages of t inven tion so far described is well known andneed not tion will appear from the following more detailed be e forth infurther detail e p to P t Out description. that for shipping purposesthe casing is in com- In the accompanying drawings forming part pletelycollaps d conditi n. the tape 2 e n s of the specification, areillustrated by way of excured to only one of the adjacent end wall flap40 ample. satisfactory embodiments of my improved the casing being desin d to be erected to casing and stacking or interlocking constructions.the rectan ul r ndi ion Sh wn in Fi 2 at th In said drawings, place ofuse, at which time the tape 22 is secured Fig. 1 represents a front viewelevation of four to the other o h en w ll sec i ns I9, 20, whilecasings constructed in accordance with the inits free ends are securedto the side walls i3. 45

vention and interlocked both vertically. and hori- In accordance withthe present invention, the zontally, the drawers being omitted for thesake open front end of the casing which receives the of greaterclearness; drawer (not shown) is provided with a reinforc- Fig. 2 is aperspective view of a casing, the body ing frame ii which can be easilyand conveniof the casing being shown in position for receivently fittedover the front end of the casing and 50 ing the front end reinforcingframe; secured thereto. The. frame ii is structurally Fig. 3 shows afragmentary side elevation, separate from the casing andis preferablymade partly in section, of two superposed casings with of sheet metal.The frame is of channel crossthe stacking or interlocking mechanism inposisection, and may be made of an integral piece of ti n h sheet metal,suitably bent, the inner flange Ho 55 being preferably shorter than theouter flange llb. The inward bending of the inner flange may befacilitated by removing triangular portions of metal from the originalfiat blank at points corresponding to the Joints He. The ends of thereinforcing frame may meet at one of the corners, for example, as shownat lid, and be suitably united by soldering, welding or the like. Ifdesired, thin angled members may be soldered or welded to the meetingedges of two adJacent flanges, preferably the outer longer flanges, uponthe inner face thereof, as indicated at Me. If desired, the frame may bemade with one of the sides, such as the bottom side, separate from otherthree, the two being then united at their ends by welding or the like.

The reinforcing frame II is made sufficiently strong, not only to keepthe walls of the casing in their normal right angular relationship, butalso to withstand a weight of loaded casings stacked above it. To thisend, the frame is made of suitably strong metal, the channelcross-section of the frame contributing greatly to its strength, as iswell understood. If desired, relatively fiat angle irons may be insertedbetween the inner and outer flanges at certain or all of the corners ofthe frame in order to increase the rigidity thereof. These angle ironsare suitable fixed within the frames, as by soldering or welding.

The metallic reinforcing frame is intended to be fitted, as alreadyindicated, upon the front edges of the walls of the casing. In order tofacilitate the assembly of these parts and at the same time insure astrong although releasable union therebetween, I provide upon the frontedges of the casing walls (by which term I include the side, bottom andtop walls) or at least upon certain of such walls, relatively rigidclips 25 preferably made of metal which may be mounted upon extensions26 of the casing walls and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as

by pinching, as indicated at 21; The ends of the extensions 26 and theircovering clips 25 are short of the adacent corners of the casing by anextent sufficient to accommodate the angle irons 24 embedded within theframe H. The frame can thus be mounted upon the casing with the clips 25reaching as far as possible into the space between the flanges Ha andllb, and in fact until they contact the inner surface of the front wallI if of the frame. By properly dimensioning the clips 25 and the angleirons 24, the edges of these parts would be substantially in contactwith each other when the frame is in assembled position upon the casing;thereby, the clips and angle irons act substantially as a continuousmetallic filler within the outer frame H and act to reinforce the latterand hence strengthen the casing. It will thus be seen that my improvedfront end reinforcing structure comprises a complete. and rigid frame IIwhich is completely detachable from the casing to enable the latter tobe collapsed during shipping or for storage, and parts 25 which areintended to be permanently secured to the casing but in no way interferewith the collapse thereof, the parts 25 cooperating with the parts 24 toprovide an additional reinforcing structure.

In order to fix the reinforcing frame upon the casing to preventdisplacement thereof upon opening of the drawer, especially when thecasing is not secured to vertically or horizontally adacent casings inthe manner described hereinbelow, as when only a single file is used, Iprovide spring tongues upon certain of the clip members 25, such asthose located on the top and bottom walls of the casing. These springtongues may be struck from the body of the clips themselves, as shown at28. The raised rear ends of this tongue are adapted to be engaged byrelatively rigid lugs 29 struck downwardly from the body of the longerflanges llb of the metallic frame. It will, of course, be understoodthat the fianges llb are longer, in the direction of the longitudinalaxis of the casing, than the clip members 25 and in the assembledcondition of the frame on the casing, the forward edge of the lugs 29passes just beyond the rear edge of the spring tongues 28. To releasethe frame from the casing for purposes of collapse of the latter, thespring tongues may be depressed by inserting a suitable tool into theopening 30 in the frame II in advance of the lug 29 so that the framecan be slipped forwardly over the depressed spring tongues 28.

Collapsible files now on the market are provided with means for securingvertical stacks and horizontal rows of individual casings againstdisplacement relative to each other. In one form of construction, thestacking devices comprise elongated sheet metal members which arereceived in straps provided at the sides of the casings, the strapsbeing struck from the body of the metal composing vertical reinforcingmembers, the stacking device passing through the straps on superposedcasings and the ends of the stacking device extending considerably belowthe lower strap and considerably below the upper strap, therebyrequiring a considerable vertical displacement between superposedcasings to effect disengagement of one from the other. Interlockingbetween adjacent vertical straps is effected by means of lateral hookson the stacking devices which can be engaged with each other only byrelative vertical movement between the horizontally adjacent files. In abattery of such horizontally and vertically interlocked files, it isimpossible to remove a centrally positioned file, that is, onesurrounded on all sides by other files, without dismantling practicallythe whole battery. Thus, where the battery of files is employed for moreor less frequent use and it is desired to remove a file to store it awaymore or less permanently as a "dead file, it is extremely diflicult toremove the file without disturbing a large numbe: of the other files.

In another type of stacker mechanism now on the market, the stackingmember is provided with ribs which interlock with similar ribs on asacking member positioned on a vertically adjacent stack of casings, thetwo being held together by a pin or bolt entering the more or lesscircular passageway formed between the interlocked ribs. Upon removal ofthe pin, the adjacent stacks can be moved horizontally with respect toeach other, so that a whole stack can be removed without disturbing theother stacks. However, to remove a lower file in a stack of files, theupper files must be lifted to enable the stacking members to be releasedfrom the file to be removed. This usually means the removal of all ofthe files positioned above the one to be separated.

In accordance with the present invention, a stacking mechanism isprovided which enables a file to be removed quickly and easily, nomatter where it is located in a battery of files, practically withoutdisturbing any of the other files. I accomplish this result by providinginterconnecting means between the files which can be readily released toenable a file to be detached from the tion illustrated in the drawings,these interlocking means pass through the juxtaposed walls of adjacentcasings perpendicularly vtothe planes of such wallsand-preferablythrough the reinforcing structures associated with thefront ends of the walls. These interlocking devices are accessible fromthe interior of the individual casings upon opening of the drawers. Toremove any particular file, therefore, it becomes necessary only to openthe drawer of the file and if necessary also the drawers of the adjacentfiles, and release the interlocking means. i

The interlocking devices that may be employed in my improved mode ofsecuring vertically and horizontally stacked flies to each other maytake a great variety of forms and in fact may comprise any known andsuitable type of fastening means. In the construction illustrated by wayof example in the accompanying drawings. these interlocking means areshown in the form of a bolt and wing nut, but as already pointed.

out, any other known type of fastening devices may be employed. Thescrews and nuts are shown respectively at 3| and '32. The top and.

bottom portions of the reinforcing frame are provided with apertures 33which are adapted to register with openings 34 in the top and bottomwalls of the casing and with similar apertures on vertically superposedand underlying casings. The superposed casings can thus be secured toeach other to prevent lateral and longitudinal movement with respect ,toeach other, by inserting the bolt through the registering apertures 33and 34, as shown in Fig. 3, and then engaging the nut 32 upon theprotruding end of the screw. The side portions of the reinforcing frameII are similarly provided with apertures 35 disposed to register withsimilar apertures 36 in the side walls of the casing, the screws beingsumciently long to pass through the two adjacent walls and reinforcingframes of horizontally juxtaposed casings. Suitable washers may beemployed to bear against the paper walls, or the clip members 25 may beextended to provide bearing surfaces for the screw heads or nuts at theinside surfaces of the casing walls.

It will be noted that the openings 34, 35 and 36 are convenientlyarranged in the corner portion of the casing and reinforcing framebetween the projecting clip members 25. They may, however, be arrangedelsewhere along the periphery of the open end of the casing andcorrespondingly along the metallic frame. I prefer, however, to arrangethem as illustrated, as in such position the mounted screws 32 cause nointerference with the movement of the drawer or with the insertion orremoval of the contents of the drawer of the file.

Similar securing means may be provided at the rear of the casing, theside walls and, if

desired, also the top and bottom walls, being provided with suitablemetallic reinforcing members which are suitably apertured to receive thescrews. In general, it will be sumcient to provide only verticalreinforcing members at the rear portions of the side walls, such membersextending along substantially the whole height of such walls but notinterfering with the clips of the casing. For most purposes, however,the securing of the rear portions of the casings to each other can bedispensed with.

An assembled battery of casings is shown in Fig. l, which illustratesthe manner of securing the casings to each other in such a manner as toprevent displacement of the individual files. From Fig. 1 it will bereadily understood that where it is desired to remove one of a batteryof files, the fastening means associated with the particular file can bereleased and the file removed practically without disturbing'the other'flles. It will be noted that the file above the one that is removedwill remain in suspended position, being held to the files to each sideof it by the fastening means. As the file is removed, the rear end ofthe file immediately above it can be propped, if desired, where nointerlocking means for the rear of the files is provided. Although onlyone fastening means is illustrated as being provided for the side wallsof the casing, it is apparent that more than one such means may beprovided, preferably arranged above the side walls of the drawer. Shouldit be desired to provide an interlocking means adjacent to the bottom ofthe side walls, the side walls may be provided with an enlargedaperture,to receive the fastening means so as to keep the end ets at the sides ofthe reinforcing frames, the horizontally adjacent casings can be broughtinto direct contact, thereby not only conserving space, but preventingthe accumulation of dust and other matter between columns of casings.

While I have described my invention specifically in connection with apaper casing, it will be obvious that casings made of other materialsmay be employed, such as a metal coated paper or cardboard casing or anall-metal casing, particularly one which is unable to withstand heavycompressive stresses and accordingly requires the provision of areinforcing front frame.

I claim:

1. A collapsible casing comprising an openended quadrilateral structurehaving top, bottom and side walls, made of paper material provided withscore lines between the adjacent walls along which the walls may behingedly moved to erect or collapse the casing, a rigid reinforcingframe separate from the casing and adapted to be fitted over the frontedges of the walls at the open end of the casing, extensions on at leastcertain of the casing walls intermediate the lateral edges thereof, andstiffening means 30 f Fig. 1, that by the elimination of straps orsockassociated with said projections and acting to facilitate assemblyof the reinforcing frame upon the casing.

2. A casing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stiffening meanscomprises reversely bent metallic sheathing members secured to saidprojections.

3. A casing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stiffening meanscomprises reversely bent metallic sheathing members secured to saidprojections, at least one of said sheathings having a tongue projectingfrom the outer surface thereof, and lugs extending from the reinforcingframe and adapted to interlock with said tongues to secure the frame tothe casing.

4. A casing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stiffening meanscomprises reversely bent metallic sheathing members secured to said pronthe adjacent edges of neighboring stiffening' a tongue projecting fromthe outer surface thereof, lugs extending from the reinforcing frame andadapted to interlock with said tongues to secure the frame to thecasing, and an aperture in the frame through which the said tongue maybe depressed to disengage the same from the lug and enable the frame tobe detached from the casing.

5. A collapsible casing comprising an openended quadrilateral structurehaving top, bottom and side walls, a rigid reinforcing frame separatefrom the casing and adapted to be fitted over the front edges of thewalls at the open end of the casing, extensions on at least'certain ofthe casing walls intermediate the lateral edges thereof, stiffeningmeans associated with said projections and acting to facilitate assemblyof the reinforcing frame upon the casing, and angle plates secured to atleast certain of the comer portions of the frame inwardly thereof andadapted to occupy the angular interval between means.

angular interval between adjacent metallic sheathings on the casing soas to form therewith a reinforcing structure within the reinforcingframe, and releasable interlocking means on the frame and on at leastone of the metal sheathings.

JACOB MANDEL.

